Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Cedrus atlantica

Atlantic Cedar · Atlas Cedar

Family PinaceaeGenus Cedrus

A small barrel-shaped cone standing upright at the center of a rosette of short needles, on a flat-topped cedar branch.
FruitMustapha BassouhCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
TreeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
treePlants of the World Online
Height
40-60 ft12-18 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
30-40 ft9-12 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Brown/Copper, GreenExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
FallExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Algeria, MoroccoGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
6-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good DrainageExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Its mountain forests in Morocco and Algeria can shelter the endangered Barbary macaque. The blue garden forms are the Glauca group. Wikipedia: Cedrus atlantica

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 42 days.

67% germination in 42 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Cedrus p. 114Public domain
Show the original text
Cedrus (Pinaceae). C. atlantica germ. 40(4/6 in 6th w) and 70(1/6 in 12th w). Sowing at 70 was deleterious.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Cedrus p. 114. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 11, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 84 days to germinate.

17% germination in 84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Cedrus p. 114Public domain
Show the original text
Cedrus (Pinaceae). C. atlantica germ. 40(4/6 in 6th w) and 70(1/6 in 12th w). Sowing at 70 was deleterious.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Cedrus p. 114. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

Add to My Garden

View species page